Wilton loses in playoff

Published 8:00 pm, Thursday, June 4, 2009

Staff Reports

Win by the playoff, lose by the playoff.

One year after winning the FCIAC golf championship by edging out Greenwich by a stroke during a three-hole playoff, the Wilton High boys golf team lost the 2009 league championship in the same fashion.

The Cardinals fired a 49 over the extra session to edge out Wilton's 50 and take the title Thursday afternoon at Fairchild Wheeler.

Staples, which went into the championships having gone 18-0 during the regular season, finished one stroke off the lead, finishing third overall with a 292.

Wilton and Greenwich each shot a stellar seven-over 291 over the first 18 holes. Greenwich earned its way into the playoff when FCIAC Player of the Year David Pastore sank a 25-foot putt on the 18th hole.

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Greenwich, which lost to Wilton at New Canaan Country Club last season, won in the playoff on holes 10, 17 and 18.

Wilton's Brian Murphy, who led the Warriors with an even-par 71 during regulation, just missed a birdie putt on the final hole of the playoff that would have forced a second playoff.

"It's funny, our target was 290," Wilton head coach Doug Campbell said. "The greens were tough and we didn't make a lot of putts. The guys are a little down right now, but we did beat New Canaan and Trumbull and Staples."

Also for Wilton, Mike Deming and Will Herndon shot 73, Jack Mathews fired a 74 and Marshall Stock shot a 79.

"That's the thing about a one-day tournament. Wilton was seeded fifth and they came in here and had a great day," Staples head coach Tom Owen said.

Staples sophomore Andrew Gai fired a 1-under 70 to lead the Wreckers while Dylan Murray shot a 73, Kirk Massie a 74, senior Charlie Knofla a 75 and Austin Alianiello a 79.

After winning the FCIAC regular-season title, the Wreckers were naturally disappointed.

"The kids were asking themselves, 'Was there one stroke we left out there? If I had just made that 1-footer, or if I hadn't hit one into the hazard,'" Owen said. "But they played great. The 291 is a great score. Last year the winning score was 307, so we played well."

Staples will now turn its attention toward the Division I state tournament, where the Wreckers will be seeded No. 1 overall.

"The great thing is it's not over yet," Owen said. "We're seeded No. 1 in Division I, so we have that to look forward to. I've said it before, the FCIAC is the strongest league in the state, so to finish one stroke in back of being in a playoff is disappointing, but it just goes to show how tough the league is."